Carver C40:
2nd in a New Design Series

With more and more boaters finding a desire for moving up to real cruising boats with actual flying bridges, Carver enters the field with a clear purpose to give the competition a run for its money. First was the C34 which we previously tested. And now, ready to launch this August, is hull #1 of the C40. Recognizing that the command bridge design is an underserved market segment, this new launch is value priced, offers real privacy with two staterooms and two heads, and tops it all off with a commanding view of her surroundings.
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The new Sea Ray 240 Sundeck has a tremendous capacity for a deckboat of this length -- 13 is as much or more than most pontoon boats of this size. But there is more to the new 240 Sundeck than just capacity because, the fit-and-finish, upholstery and standard amenities of the boat have also been upgraded. Our recently-made video of the 240 takes a look at the interior details of this new deckboat from Sea Ray.
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At what length does the "enclosed express cruiser" class end and the "motoryacht" class begin? At one time we would have said somewhere in the 50' or 60' (16 to 19 m) range. But the Prestige 450 S has us reconsidering that range of demarcation. The reason is that to us she simply looks more like a small motoryacht than like an enclosed express cruiser. In addition to her external styling there are also some very practical aspects of the Prestige 450 S (such as the one above) that give her more gravitas in our eyes.
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Captain's Report

Mako 284 CC:
Center Console for All Seasons

Regular readers know we like cruising canvas because it extends the season, thus allows the boating investment to pay higher returns. It's not too soon to be planning for fishing trips in late fall. It takes a bit of extra equipment and clothing (think ski jackets and pants), but a cruising canvas and a 12V electric heater means a day's outing on the water can be quite pleasant -- and with some luck even rewarding.
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When it comes to boats that are only offered with the 135-hp sterndrive engine one of the most often asked questions is, "Is 135-hp enough to pull an adult on a wakeboard?" To find out we asked the folks at Bayliner if they minded putting their 175 BR to the test. They were pleased to have us find out for ourselves (as they had been telling us for months that it was enough). The answer is yes, the 135-hp engine does have what it takes in the Bayliner 175 BR and we have the video to prove it.
See it here...

Evinrude E-TEC 115:
No Scheduled Maintenance for 3 Years

One of the advantages of 2-stroke power is the absence of valve shims and the need to recalibrate them-- because there are no valves in the first place. Then there also are no rocker arms, valve lifters, cams and about 200 other parts that 4-stroke engines have. All of this means that Evinrude can offer a pledge that the engine needs no scheduled dealer service for 300 hours or 3 years, whichever comes first. But that is just the beginning.
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The Yamaha FZR is for thrill-seekers only. Her supercharged 1812cc Yamaha 4-stroke engines blasts her off the dime in a flash. Because she has a lightweight NanoXcel hull her CG is lower and its shape is designed for deep edge-to-edge inside leaning for extreme riding while keeping the jockey firmly in the saddle. Capt. Steve gives her the once over before taking her out for some adrenaline-pumping running.
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New Captain's Report

Viper 243:
Euro Cuddy with 23 Engine Options

Boaters who would like something different in a sportboat may want to consider the German-built Viper 243. She is a well-appointed 23’9” (7.25 m) cuddy with a berth below, an enclosed head, wrap-around cockpit seat, entertainment console and a choice of 23 engine packages ranging from 190-hp to 300-hp, in both gas and diesel.
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Sun Tracker Party Barge 20 DLX:
In the Middle of 19 Models

Regular readers might be wondering why we publish the Sun Tracker Party Barge 20 DLX so often and the reason is that she sits right in the middle of Sun Tracker's fleet of 13 pontoon boats that stretch from 16’ to 25’ (4.87 to 7.62 m). She is rated for 10 people and in the image above her room is obvious. If it is too large, scale down; too small, scale up. There are also Sun Trackers for fishing and ones for water sports. Most are twin-toons, but several are triple-toons and there is a wide range of engine horsepower available for all purposes. For example, on the Party Barge 20 DLX there is an option of a 75-hp OptiMax.
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The Jeanneau "new concept" is to make an attractive boat as much like a floating apartment as possible and to maximize functionality at every turn. For example, in the bow is a queen that can be made into twins, on deck is a dinette that doubles as a companion seat for two, and in the cockpit is a transom bench seat that can be moved aft to increase deck space for a cocktail party. She is powered by twin IPS systems of either 300-hp or 370-hp. Like all NC models, she is reasonably priced given the level of equipment aboard.
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Chaparral 257 SSX:
Prestige and Performance

The Chaparral 257 SSX turns heads for so many different reasons that it is hard to list them all. First is her sleek styling with her sculpted hull sides that can be seen in relief in the photo above, along with her signature triple engine room air scoops. Then there is her classy-looking, double-stitched upholstery in the cockpit with two tones and a darker colored dash treatment. Third are the innovations aboard such as the three-way portside seat that makes into a lounger, bench seat or dinette. We think Chaparral has out done itself on this model.
Take a look...

New Captain's Report

Lund 1750 Tyee:
Smallest Tyee has Brio

The 1750 Tyee is the smallest of four boats in the Lund Tyee series that ranges up to the 1950. Like the other three boats, the 1750 is also built for big water and multi-species, fish such as walleye, salmon, lake trout, or pike. But look closely and it becomes evident that the 1750 can also be used as a tow boat as well. That means one boat can provide recreation for the whole family, which makes it one of the best investments possible in our book.
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Expert Boating

BoatTEST.com’s
Boating Course

Based on the feedback we’ve been getting about BoatTEST.com's Smart Boating Course it’s clearly not only for beginners, but also for veteran boaters as well. Perhaps that is why the NMMA started promoting the course after just one look. It's the most complete boating course available… period.
Order your 4-disc box set...

Lesson of the Week

How to Handle a Boat
in Different Sea Conditions

This week Capt. Steve goes over five lessons and guidelines on understanding wave characteristics and how to handle a boat in different types of sea conditions. Learn how to approach a head sea and how to handle the boat in a following sea. The videos presented this week are part of BoatTEST.com’s Boating Course which is USCG-approved. Watch these video boating lessons every week on BoatTEST.com.

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